ملف ١٩٠٤/٢٧٦٤ الجزء ٣ "سكة حديد بغداد: مفاوضات عامة ١٩١٠-١٩١٢." [ظ‎‎٦] (٥٤٤/٢١)

Extensions and Branches.
There remain for consideration certain other extensions of the main line which
require a passing notice. Dismissing as of small importance proposed branches to
Marash and Aintal, to the north of Aleppo, an important feeder of the line runs down
from Kharput, through Diarbekr and Mardin, to El Helif. This line, which taps a rich
and important territory, largely inhabited by industrious Armenians, will sooner or
later be extended northwards to meet what is erroneously called the “.French ” railway
running up from Samsun, on the Black Sea, to Sivas. The construction of these rails
will afford Russia the best steam accommodation with southern Asiatic waters, at least,
until the new Trans-Persian line has been constructed.
From Mosul a line will be thrown out towards Erbil, if Russian consent can be
obtained. It will be remembered that the construction of these branch lines directed
towards the Russian sphere of influence in Persia was a matter of special discussion
during the “ Potsdam ” discussions of last year. We shall have to wait to see what the
actual form of the agreement between Germany and Russia has now taken. A proposed
line from El Baj, on the Tigris, to Hit, on the Euphrates, is talked of, as also is a
branch in the same district to the east of the main line linking up Khurmatli with
Sadiyeh. The latter is of no importance. The former may suddenly spring into
prominence if the petroleum of Hit is properly developed.
But beyond all question, the most important extensions of the Bagdad line are
those wFich are to link it respectively with the Russian railways in Persia, on the one
hand, and on the other with the waters of the Persian Gulf. Of these, mention must
be made in a separate article.